Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister's Question Time from 7th February 1992.

PRIME MINISTER:

Special Advisers

Mr. Harris : To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the names of all persons who have served as special advisers to Ministers, by Department (a) from June 1987 to November 1990 and (b) since November 1990; and if he will indicate where possible the individual's prior profession or employment.

The Prime Minister : Information on the names of special advisers, including part-timers, and their Departments is as follows. Information on prior employment or profession is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the respective responsibilities of the Minister of Agriculture and the Secretary of State for Health in ensuring that foreign imports of eggs are free of salmonella infection and satisfy the quality requirements of United Kingdom produced eggs.

The Prime Minister : The Secretary of State for Health has lead responsibility for the Imported Food Regulations 1984 which contain measures for the protection of public health in relation to imported food, including eggs. Responsibility for the enforcement of the regulations lies with local authorities and port health authorities. The Minister of Agriculture acted jointly with the Secretary of State for Health in the making of the regulations.

Members' Correspondence

Mr. Rowlands : To ask the Prime Minister (1) what specific procedures he has laid down for Ministers and Departments for the answering of hon. Members' urgent correspondence;

(2) what response times have been or will be established for departmental replies to hon. Members' letters under the citizens charter;

(3) what is the average time taken by Ministers to reply to hon. Members' letters in each Department.

The Prime Minister : Following the publication of the efficiency scrutiny of ministerial correspondence in December 1990, the Government have reinforced their efforts to ensure that letters from hon. Members receive proper consideration and replies within a reasonable time. These include extensive use of targets for reply times, monitoring and publication of performance against targets, and more efficient ways of dealing with letters within Departments and agencies. Departments will each publish their performance against targets for replies to ministerial correspondence.

Data Information Systems

Mr. Cohen : To ask the Prime Minister what data information systems his Office has (a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

The Prime Minister : The Cabinet Office and 10 Downing Street each have data information systems.

We have not been consulted with a view to taking part in other data information systems, and there are no current or planned links to the police national computer.

A X400 electronic mail link is planned between the networks, and in due course to other Government Departments.

The Data Protection Act applies to both systems and appropriate registrations have been made.